Local Health Departments
Counseling
Using the instructions and the standing order on this page North
Carolina Local Health Departments can bill health care payors for
tobacco cessation counseling. Download both documents and follow the
instructions to be reimbursed for providing tobacco treatment
services.
Dispensing NRT
The NC Board of Pharmacy allows Registered Nurses employed by a North
Carolina Local Health Department to dispense over-the-counter
nicotine replacement therapy to persons as directed in the Standing
Orders below. These nicotine replacement therapies do not require a
prescription to be purchased; however, having a prescription for
nicotine replacement therapy may facilitate insurance coverage.
These products are listed under 21 NCAC 46 .2403 Drugs and Devices
to be Dispensed. Only those health departments that have a
dispensing pharmacy permit can implement these Standing Orders
by nurses who have been trained in nurse dispensing.
Over-the-Counter Nicotine Replacement Therapy and Medicaid
When prescribing or selecting nicotine patches, gum or lozenges for
your a patient/client who has Medicaid, be sure and pick a
medication with the proper National Drug Code or NDC.
For a list of all Medicaid covered over-the-counter nicotine
replacement therapies with NDC codes click here. Any
nicotine replacement therapy not on this list, will not be covered by
Medicaid. This may cause confusion and
result in your patient not receiving their prescribed and covered
tobacco pharmacotherapy. To ensure your patient’s/client’s
pharmacotherapy is covered:
1. Call the pharmacy and tell them to use one of the nicotine
replacement options on the NDC list.
OR
2. Add in the Notes to Pharmacy section of your NRT prescriptions
for Medicaid recipients: “Pharmacy - Please fill with a
Medicaid-covered NDC. For a current list call NC Tracks at
1-800-688-6696.”
